TVWriter.com

dreamsmadetext said:

I have some concerns about the TVwriter.com contests. (Posted here: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=738912&postcount=19).

Has anyone had a good experience with these contests?

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I've never entered a tvwriter.com contest but I've followed them and Larry Brody is a friend. He is a "good guy," with years of television under his belt, as a producer, production manager, writer, and show runner. He produces lots of stuff for European television. And, I've seen him lend a hand to beginning writers too.

I had the opportunity one time to work with a fellow who had won one of Brody's contests and was in the midst of negotiating a deal with some TV production house and needed assistance in buffing out his Bible and the contract. So winning got him that far, although I think his project ended up in development hell.

But let's face it, Larry's contests are relatively small potatos, designed mainly I think to give writers a chance to compete against their fellows and see who's got the best stuff. Winners will get some exposure, but probably not land an agent.

So it depends on what your expectations are. If you'll give voice to your "concerns" I'll see if I can address them.

I like the tvwriter.com message board, and I'm a big fan of Brody's first book on TV Writing, http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9781557835017&itm=1

I've never entered any of the contests at there, because I don't see TV contests based outside of LA as useful. My philosophy is to only enter a few major contests.

I've heard mixed reviews of Brody's coverage and online classes. Some people praise them highly, and some people see them as out of touch w/ contemporary TV.

odocoileus said:

I like the tvwriter.com message board, and I'm a big fan of Brody's first book on TV Writing, http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9781557835017&itm=1

I've never entered any of the contests at there, because I don't see TV contests based outside of LA as useful. My philosophy is to only enter a few major contests.

I've heard mixed reviews of Brody's coverage and online classes. Some people praise them highly, and some people see them as out of touch w/ contemporary TV.

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For a long time Brody was in Calabassas, so basically in LA and the contests were started up back then. He relocated to his home State of Arkansas a coupla years ago, having made his mark and now working mostly via the web. He does seminars in that region and is hooked up with some college or university situation there. He seems to be a happier camper for this move, so good for him.

I wouldn't be surprised to hear that some think he's "out of touch" with contemporary television. I'm sure he's no big fan of reality shows, for example or the kind of harder edged crime shows we see now days. But that's not his personal game anymore, he's producing content for European television, including animations, and has ideas about doing this on the web ... webcasting. Some of his animation work is for US cable and networks. I'm sure also he knows his limitations vis-a-vis "contemporary" television, he probably judges this by the smell test. But he knows the industry and how it works and who's got juice and who doesn't, and the process of getting a new show off the ground is a familiar one to him. I tried to get him to go into features, but he balked, a TV guy through and through.

Contest-wise, I'd agree there are bigger fish to fry.

dreamsmadetext said:

Is he still associated with the Terry Porter agency?

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You mean Brody? I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised.